The Xs & Os of Success

We improve the performance of leaders and teams in your business or organization. The results are real and sustainable.

Adult learners must be ENGAGED and ENTERTAINED in order to be EDUCATED. That’s why Xs & Os of Success has developed a unique formula to deliver its world-class learning and development training. We incorporate the leadership lessons of some of the nation’s top coaches, athletes and athletics industry professionals. These ​time-tested leadership models produce championship results for leaders and teams in business – and life. Our lessons are interactive, tangible and relevant to produce real-world results for you. In addition to our leadership solutions, we currently consult within the sports industry – professionally and at the collegiate level – allowing Xs & Os of Success to provide unique insight to the clients we work with.

Leadership Solutions for Business

Team Building – Leadership Programs – Training Workshops – Coaching

We are often our own worst enemies, creating artificial barriers through lack of communication and assumption. Xs & Os of Success assists organizations – big and small – in identifying and removing these barriers, allowing team members to unlock and maximize their potential by working together as one. Even the greatest teams have the power to grow. Let us show you the power of our company-specific team building, leadership and coaching experiences.

Keynote Speaking

Empower yourself and maximize your potential today.

Xs & Os of Success founder D.J. Allen has a unique ability to inspire and motivate audiences of all sizes and backgrounds. His message will transform your perception of work, life and how great you can be. No matter how accomplished or successful, D.J.’s address will show you another level of potential in both the workplace and everyday life.

For more information on D.J. Allen, including booking requests, click here.

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Leadership Solutions for the Sports Business Industry

Team Building & Leadership Development specifically designed for those working in professional & collegiate sports.

Whether it’s in the ticket office or on the court, a successful game plan always starts at the top. Xs & Os of Success teaches many of the same skills used by some of the world’s most renowned coaches and athletes to encourage team growth through learned, individual leadership & communication skills. These industry-specific workshops also seek to address issues unique to the industry of sport.

Youth Leadership Experiences

Lessons & experiences specifically designed to grow students socially.

Leadership isn’t born, it’s cultivated through training. While it’s true some individuals naturally possess traits associated with leadership, Xs & Os of Success’ youth-specific workshops aim to maximize the leadership potential in us all, giving young people the tools necessary for success in and out of the classroom and ultimately, in the game of life.

Team Building & Social Skills Training for Sports Teams/Athletes

Professional – Collegiate – Prep – Youth

Great teams ALWAYS communicate, but what does effective communication look like? What if there is jealousy between players? Is everyone truly more focused on “we” than “me?” Are all team members competing for results? We support coaches by offering powerful team-building experiences designed to increase communication, collaboration and productivity of teams. We also work individually with young athletes, preparing them for life as a professional.

Athletics Consulting

Messaging & Branding specialists.

It can take years to build a brand, but hours to destroy it. Our expertise in athletics marketing will ensure your brand continues to stir powerful – and intended – emotions in your audience, pushing them towards desirable outcomes. Make certain your message is being disseminated and understood appropriately by allowing us put our over 75 years of experience in sport communication and leadership to work for you.

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The Xs and Os Team

D.J. Allen, MBA

Co-Founder & President

D.J. Allen has combined his love for business and philanthropy with his passion for sports. He is the co-founder and president of Xs & Os of Success – a leadership, organizational and professional development company which uses the platform of sports and its teachings to help individuals and teams maximize their potential in business and life. Xs & Os of Success works with a network of national contacts in the sports industry – including athletes, coaches and administrators – to help provide unique insights into creating successful environments that produce winning results in the field of business – and in life.

Jay Ship

Chief Executive Officer

Jay Ship is the former Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of an international leadership development company. As such, he was responsible for all Accounting, Finance, Human Resource, and Operational activities for the organization. During Ship’s time with the company he oversaw an operation that trained more than 10,000 people. Additionally, during his tenure Ship oversaw the company’s transition from a leader in personal development training to an operation with a more balanced portfolio of products including professional and organizational development trainings.

Lon Kruger

Co-Founder

Veteran basketball coach Lon Kruger and D.J. Allen co-authored the book, The Xs & Os of Success: A Playbook for Leaders in Business and Life. The book highlights the parallels between coaching a sports team and leading others in non-sports settings. These time-tested leadership models produce championship results for leaders and teams in business – and life.

Currently the head coach at Oklahoma, Kruger – who has over 600 career wins – is the only coach in NCAA history to win NCAA tournament games with five different programs (Oklahoma, UNLV, Illinois, Florida & Kansas State). He led both Florida (1994) and Oklahoma (2016) to the Final Four.

Bridget Byrne, MBA

Director of Communications

Bridget Byrne has spent more than 15 years in college athletics, beginning as a student-athlete. Prior to joining the Xs & Os of Success team, she oversaw the majority of community-based outreach efforts in her role as Community Relations Director for UNLV Athletics. A native of Southern Nevada, Byrne walked-on to the UNLV softball team and later earned a scholarship. Following her senior season, she was named NCAA Woman of the Year for the state of Nevada. Byrne graduated from UNLV with a Master’s in business administration and Bachelor’s degrees in international business and Spanish.

Jim Livengood

Senior Visionary

Jim Livengood is one of the most-respected athletic directors in the history of college athletics having served at Arizona, Washington State, UNLV and Southern Illinois. During his three-plus decades in the industry, Jim served as president of the National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors (NACDA) and was twice named Athletic Director of the Year for Division-I. He also served as president of the Div.1A Athletic Directors’ Association and chairman of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Selection Committee. He understands firsthand the business of athletics and the unique challenges leaders face.

Stacey Allen

Curriculum Specialist

Stacey Allen has spent the last 20 years working to help strengthen public education and ensure all students have access to quality services. After spending several years teaching in the Clark County School District, she left to concentrate her efforts on autism awareness and the importance of early intervention. She has served on various community boards and currently serves on her local high school’s organizational team and the City of Henderson’s Community Education Advisory Board.